Michael Phelps: Let the Numbers Tell the Story

Michael Phelps has put up some remarkable numbers. He has won 16 gold medals,eight of which he claimed during his unforgettable performance at the 2008 Beijing games. Phelps also holds 32 world records.

Now consider some numbers that the rest of the USA put up. Like 40.6, which is the percentage of US citizens above the age of 12 that have used marijuana at least once in their lifetime. Or 14.4 million, the number of US citizens who reported using marijuana in the past month.

Everyday, all across America, millions of ordinary people smoke marijuana. Can marijuana cause problems? Of course it can. But the vast majority of marijuana smokers are happy, healthy people. They work, go to school, raise families, and contribute to their communities. Some of them even win gold medals.

When it comes to swimming, Phelps is in a class all his own. But his use of marijuana makes him like the rest of us.